Paul Weinert grew up on a farm northeast of Falls City, and attended District 54 school, which was nicknamed "Pig Hill" because of the cattle and pig farms that lined it on three sides. "A kid had to be pretty tough to survive Pig Hill school," Paul said, with a laugh. He was active in his church Zion F.U.B, until its closure. Then he and his family joined the Bethel United Methodist Church, which was built on a portion of the Weinert's farmland. Paul graduated from Falls City High School in 1948, then Westmar College in 1952, and Evangelical Theological Seminary in 1955. He started his career as a pastor in Derby, Kansas, then assumed a teaching position at Verdon High School, where he served from 1956-59. During that time, he also "filled a pulpit from time to time."From there, he and his wife, (the late) Donna Weinert (they married 22 Feb 1952 in Preston, NE.) moved to Warden, Kansas, where he pastored a church with more than 125 in attendance every Sunday. However, the family struggled to make ends meet on a pastor's salary, so they returned to Falls City when Paul was hired to teach history.
While he and Donna raised five children, Paul taught, and served on the board of directors for the Nebraska State Education Association. He also pastored churches on the weekends, first in Julian, then in Brownville and Nemaha. And, he farmed the homestead where he was raised, and, for 12 years, he served on the Falls City city council.;
"From 1982-84, I was the accidental mayor, too," he said. "I got the job when my predecessor resigned."
Several community leaders encouraged him to run for office when his term ended, but he finally had to say "no" to something.
"The evening meetings weren't fair to my family," he said.
Paul retired his teaching job in 1988, and his preaching position in 1995. He sold most of his cattle then, too, but he continued to farm,. He also substituted for preachers in the area, for any church that asked. On any given weekend, he was probably filling a pulpit somewhere. (He continues to do so to this day.) Longtime friend, Mildred Appleoff put it this way--"regarding protestant churches, Paul is Richardson's County's pastor."
"That's very flattering," Paul said.
He also married and buried people.
I've conducted weddings in churches, courtrooms, at Indian Cave, along the Missouri River and one time, even in my own home," he said. that's where his daughter, Sue was married.
"Regarding funerals, I've probably held services for more than 400 people," he said. Some were parishioners, some friends and some even former students. Many were strangers who were unchurched. Yet, Paul did his research well. His parting words made it sound like he had known the deceased person intimagely.
"I believe everyone has the right to a decent burial," he said. Always the storyteller, he shared an anecdote about one burial service. He pastored the ceremony in Auburn, then led the funeral procession from Auburn to the Harris Cemetery in Barada.
"The son-in-law of the deceased chewed me out because I had taken a rock road instead of the paved one from highway 67 to Barada," Paul said. "he was angry because he had a new Buick and didn't want rocks dinging it."
Then he laughed
"I tried to tell him that there wasn't a paved road from highway 67 to Barada."
That wasn't the worst part of the burial service, though.
"The grave digger had dug the grave in the wrong place," Paul said. Then he shook his head and smiles. "That wasn't my day."
Things like that happened more often than one would expect. "They weren't very fun at the time, but made for some lasting memories." Paul said. The toughest funeral in Paul"s memory was one that he hadn't conducted though. That service took place in 2005, when he buried his wife of 53 years, and his children and eight grandchildren said goodbye to their mother and grandmother.
"That one was the hardest," he said, "And the second toughest was the funeral I did for Bill Schock just a month or so ago."
Bill, the former owner and longtime editor of the Falls City Journal, was a close friend of Paul's. He had asked the pastor to conduct his service more than 25 years prior.
"We were good friends," Paul said, "And that made his funeral veruy hard for me."
Talking about losing his wife and one jfo his best friends made the 88-year-kold pastor emotional, so his voice trailed off.
When he continued, he said "About a year after my first wife passed away, I called Mary Jane (Lampe), who had also been widowed, and said, 'I'm not looking for a wife, just someone to have dinner with, and maybe see a movie."
They just celebrated their 11th anniversary, on a two-week trip to jAlaska.
Now, they are home. And in two weeks, Pastor Paulj Weinert will get the recognition he deserves for the countless lives that he has touched. As a teacher, volunteer, pastor, farmer, husband, father and friend, Paul has given everything he had and more.
He will join a list of grand marshals that includes his longtime friends, Bill Schock, and Mildred Appleoff. And just as he has earned, he will receive a place of distinction in Falls City's history. (Source: Falls City Journal, Wednesday August 15, 2018)
Paul Weinert Obituary
Paul Malcolm Weinert, 94, was born on March 20, 1930, at home on the family farm northeast of Falls City, the first-born child of Harold and Verena (Malcolm) Weinert. He passed away October 31, 2024 at Lincoln, NE.
He attended District 54 School (Pig Hill) and graduated from Falls City High School in 1948. He then went on to graduate from Westmar College in 1952, earned a Master’s of Divinity at Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston, IL and a Master’s Degree from the University of Kansas at Lawrence.
On February 22, 1952, he married Donna Lee Sickel. Donna preceded him in death on October 4, 2005. He then Married Mary Jane Schawang Lampe on August 11, 2007.
Paul began full-time ministry in 1955 at the Derby, KS E.U.B. Church until 1956 and then the Worden, KS E.U.B. in 1959. In 1963 he was called to serve two churches in Julian, NE which were merged into the United Methodist Church and then the Brownville and Nemaha U.M.C.s in 1970, serving both churches for 25 years. He continued officiating at countless funerals and weddings and to “fill the pulpit” into his nineties.
In 1956, Paul accepted a teaching position with Verdon High School, prior to beginning full time ministry. He returned to teaching in 1963 at Falls City High School and continued there until his retirement in 1988. Paul was a member of the Nebraska State Education Association, serving on their Board of Directors for many years. After his retirement from teaching, he was an active member of the Retired Teachers Association.
Paul farmed his entire life with a passion for stewardship to the land and the family farm. In 2024, the Weinert farm was awarded the 150 Year Nebraska Heritage Farm Award.
Paul was very active in his community, serving on the Falls City Council for 12 years and President of the Council in 1982, and as Mayor. He served on the Utility Board while on the council and the Civil Service Board for 24 years.
He was an active member of Rotary for many years and volunteered countless hours to community organizations and events. In 2018, Paul was honored for his civic service, when he was selected to be Grand Marshal of the Falls City Cobblestone Festival.
Paul was a member of the Zion Church until its closing and then the Bethel E.U.B. church (now Bethel Global Methodist). The Bethel church was built on a portion of the Weinert farm.
Paul was preceded in death by his first wife, Donna, parents, sisters, Mary Jean and Virginia, a brother, James in infancy, brothers-in-law, Jack and Don, and sister-in-law, Pat.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Jane, brother, Charles, his children, Sue Weinert, Tom Weinert and his wife Gayle, Carol Thomas and her husband John, Greg Weinert and his wife Heidi, and Mary Beth Smith and her husband Craig, grandchildren, Drew (Ashley) Smith, Sarah (Jake) Huppert, Noah (Sabrina) Smith, Jesse Weinert, Sophia Weinert, Malcolm Weinert, Cambria Weinert, and Tristan Weinert; one step-great-grandchild, Thomas Hargis, step-children and step-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, countless students and friends whose lives he touched.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, November 9, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Bethel Global Methodist Church with Pastor Mike Hader officiating. Interment will be in Bethel Zion Cemetery.
Documents related to Paul Weinert: |
| Paul's parents, Harold Edwin Weinert 1901-1982 and Verena Luella Malcolm 1907-1969. They had 3 children Paul M. Weinert, Virginia Ann Weinert b 1937 and James Lowell Weinert 1952-1952 |
 |
| This is the church John's family attended. |
 |
| 1880-1881 John Weinert's name on the church rolls next to his sister and his parents. |
Paul began attending Zion Church in 1943.
 |
| Zion Evangelical Church, date unknown |
 |
| Mary Jane and Paul Weinert |
 |
| Paul with August Weinert's rife. |
 |
| LtR Mary Jane, Paul Weinert, Sandra Blunck |
 |
| Add caption |
 |
| 1986 map of a portion of Jefferson Township showing land owned by Paul Weinert'. |
 |
| 1986 map of a portion of Jefferson Township showing land owned by Paul Weinert. |
 |
| 1986 map of a portion of Jefferson Township showing land owned by Paul Weinert's second wife Mary Jane. |
This is the obit for Paul's stepmother:
Alice K. Sickel Weinert, 92, Falls City, died Thursday (4/23/09). Born northeast of Falls City to the late John L. & Mary Elizabeth (Noyes) Speers.
Survivors: sons, David Sickel, Falls City; Benjamin Sickel, Falls City; daughter, Judy Campbell, Lampe, Mo.; step-sons, Paul Weinert, Falls City; Charles Weinert, Florence, Ore.; step-daughters, Mary Jean Parriott, Chandler, Ariz.; Virginia Gesell, Rochester, N.Y.; brother, Sherman Speers, Wildwood, Ill.; sisters, Nellie Futscher, Norwalk, Calif.; Gertie Maze, Falls City; 10 grandchildren; nine step-grandchildren; 25 great-trandchildren; 22 step-great-grandchildren; nine great-great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by two husbands, Austin Sickel and Harold Weinert.
Funeral Services 10:30 a.m. Monday (4/27/09) at the Bethel United Methodist Church, Falls City. Interment: Bethel-Zion Cemetery. Family will receive friends 7-8 p.m. Sunday (4/26/09) at the Dorr & Clark Funeral Home, Falls City. Dorr & Clark Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Sue, Paul's daughter: Great, I see you were able to put Paul’s obituary in your document. In looking at it, I noticed that you have Paul’s parents having 3 children. Actually, there are 5 children. The missed ones are Mary Jean (she went by MJ) and Charles. See attached document.